BRAZIL: Indigenous people access legal assistance in 14 villages

Human rights defender, public defender engage with community members
(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries facilitated free legal assistance and citizenship access for people in Indigenous communities across 14 villages in the municipalities in Água Boa and Nova Nazaré, Brazil. Salesian Deacon José Alves served as a bridge between the communities and the public defenders during the meetings known as “Advocacy is Up to You – Indigenous Edition” because of the Salesians’ long-standing work in the area.
International human rights defender Nicolas Laino and state public defender Fábio Barbosa visited various villages and listened to local leaders on issues such as health, education, housing and sustainability. In the municipality of Nova Nazaré, they discussed challenges related to education, health care and infrastructure. In the Paraíso and Tritopá villages, they engaged with teachers, students, nurses and Indigenous leaders. In Cocalinho, they followed the Guarani’s community’s struggle for land rights after being displaced from their territory. Alves participated in the visits, facilitating dialogue between the parties.
During the mission, 113-year-old Germana Perãamo, from the Xavante group, received news from the public defender that her pension had been reinstated. Clodoaldo Queiroz, executive secretary of the Public Defense Administration, highlighted the importance of the initiative, while Pamela Watanabe, coordinator of Community Actions and Interactions, emphasized the value of partnerships in the project.
According to the World Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Brazil with poverty tripling in 2021. Nearly 17 million people fell into poverty in the first quarter of the year and the poverty rate now is higher than it was a decade ago. Researchers estimate that 12.8% of Brazil’s population, some 27 million people, are now living below the poverty line.
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Sources:
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ANS – Brazil – Salesian Deacon Accompanies Public Defenders on Legal Mission to Indigenous Villages
Salesian Missions – Brazil
World Bank – Brazil